Articles by Lucille Wood

Reasons to Grow Plants Hydroponically

Firstly what is hydroponics? Hydroponics is the science of growing plants in a nutrient water solution whereby the roots are supported by a substance other than soil.

If you’re a gardener you will appreciate the hard work that goes into cultivating plants. Not only does this involve ensuring the right soil type but there can be a lot of raking, hoeing, tilling and other hard work that goes into maintaining the soil. Then there is the weeding and the effort that goes into keeping pests at bay.

Hydroponically grown plants solve these problems as there is no soil. The Plants are grown in an aggregate that can be anything from small rounded stones, broken tiles, perlite or vermiculite. Therefore there are no moles or cutworms to worry about, no poisonous pesticides and no weeding. You only have to worry about keeping the plants watered on a regular bases – but even this worry can be taken care of with a hydroponic pump system set to a timer. You can keep your plants watered at regular intervals and even go on holiday for a few weeks without worrying about coming home to shrivelled up dead plants.

Hydroponically grown plants thrive both inside and outside of the home. The nutrient rich water combined with less destruction by pests means you have more bountiful yields with less waste. They grow well both in natural sunlight and artificial light. A hydroponic unit can be portable making it easy to bring the plants indoors during the harsh winters. In fact because a hydroponic unit distributes nutrients evenly to each plant and the porous growing aggregate lets air circulate freely you can ensure everything grows quicker and ripens more quickly, producing many times the yield of soil-grown plants over the same time.

If you have tasted tomatoes from the supermarket you may have noticed that they have tough skins and lack the taste of home grown tomatoes. Farmers choose seeds that produce vegetables with tough skins to facilitate machine harvesting, sorting and shipping. Also they are often harvested before they are ripe to ensure a longer shelf life. Quality is sacrificed for quantity. Home grown plants, particularly those that are hydroponically grown have superior nutritional content and a fuller flavour.

Plants grown in the supermarket are often transported over a long distance reducing their freshness and adding to their cost. With the rise in oil prices and expanding cities gobbling up agricultural land the cost of food is likely to skyrocket in the future. Is it any wonder that more and more people are using hydroponics to grow their own? Hydroponically grown fruit and veg are not only healthier, tastier and more bountiful, they can save you lots of money in the long term while giving you the satisfaction of growing something yourself.…

Depending on your tastes, you can choose from various steaks, from Rib-eye to Sirloin to Porterhouse. Which is your favorite? Keep reading for the answers to your questions! Listed below are some of the most popular steaks in the world. If you’re unsure which steak is best, read our guide to the four most popular types. Then, go out and buy your favorite cut of steak! You can also learn more at Farmers Near Me Flowood MS.

Porterhouse steaks

When considering which cut of steak to order, Porterhouse or T-bone may be the better choice. While the two cuts of steak have similar taste and texture, they differ. Porterhouse steaks are often marketed as dinner for two and are cheaper per ounce. But the question remains: which cut is better? It all depends on your taste. 

Firstly, porterhouse steaks feature two cuts of meat: the outside of the heart gets cooked, while the meat near the bone is rare and uncooked. This discrepancy in texture is a little disconcerting and may require compromise when cooking the steak. For this reason, porterhouse steaks are ideal for two-person meals. However, they can also be served as special occasions. If you want to know more, read on.

Ribeye steaks

Ribeye steaks are probably the best if you’re wondering which type of steak to choose. They’re perfect for grilling, broiling, or searing in a cast-iron skillet. The flavor of these steaks is an unmatched blend of buttery richness and succulent taste. If you’re looking to cook a ribeye steak on the grill, prepare it ahead of time by allowing it to reach room temperature. Seasoning the meat is also essential, as it will help the flavors to penetrate the meat before cooking.

In addition to its great taste, ribeye steaks are also high in vitamins and minerals. Its high marbling content is responsible for the juicy and tender texture, making ribeye steak the healthiest on the grill. Besides niacin and vitamin B6, it is also rich in selenium, zinc, iron, and phosphorus. As a bonus, ribeye is also high in protein and choline.

Flap steaks

Flap steaks are thin strips of beef cut from the bottom sirloin. They are similar in texture to skirt steak but are much cheaper. Flap steaks are often used in stir fry and carne asada dishes. They are sliced across the grain and must be cooked over high heat to reach optimal tenderness. Flap steaks are tender but can be challenging if cooked too rarely.

Another great cut of beef is the flap. Flap steaks are thin and cook very quickly. Using a high-heat grill, they cook in just a few minutes. When cooking flap steaks, you want to avoid overcooking them, but the coarse grain allows you to cook them past medium-rare. Flap steaks are a fantastic cut for rare or medium-rare but can be dry when cooked well.

Sirloin steaks

Sirloin steaks are among the most popular cuts of beef. These steaks are renowned for their taste and tenderness and are readily available in most supermarkets. This meat is also popular in Latin American countries. They can be found in almost any supermarket or butcher, but it’s recommended to arrive early if you want to purchase them. You can also order sirloin steak online.

The sirloin steak is an excellent choice …

Summer Vegetables and Fat Loss

Yes, there is still some summer left. One of the great gifts of summer is it’s beautiful fresh produce. These beautiful gifts of nature abound in New England. If you are working with a boot camp or personal training program, these foods are a perfect fit!

Now, I don’t mean to suggest that there is anything wrong with eating out. Not by a long shot. I DO suggest however, that cooking and becoming familiar with the nutritional value of foods and how to maximize that information for flavor and variety can only help you achieve your weight loss goals. Diets do not have to be super restrictive, and coupled with a serious exercise routine, it can be your best ally. By understanding food, and creating dishes that you like and that are interesting, you increase your variety of food. So instead of thinking of a weight loss diet as punishment, you will find yourself eating really good, nutritious, delectable meals. So tie on an apron and grab a spatula!!!

Grills or Hibachi’s are excellent tools for cooking foods and keeping the fat content down. Sweet Yellow Corn is everywhere and boiled has about 59 calories. Cooked on the grill, it develops a lovely smoky flavor yet maintains it’s sweetness, so you don’t really need the butter. Corn is however higher in sugar content than you might like to have on a regular basis.

Other summer vegetables that are delicious and low in calories are Snap Peas, Snap Green Beans, Carrots, and Broccoli. These vegetables are also high in fiber, each containing between 2 and 3 grams of fiber per serving of approx. 2 to 4 oz. of food. Carrots are super yummy and naturally sweet and brighten up a slammin’ cole slaw, or julliened and quick sauteed in olive oil, served with a piece of flounder or grilled cod and snow peas.

Boiling these veggies is a common if somewhat pedestrian approach to them; and no you don’t really NEED that cheddar cheese to make them delicious. Broccoli sauteed in a little olive oil with a dash of soy tossed with some sesame seeds (52 calories per tablespoon) OR done on the grill with bell pepper and onion.

Hit the Farmer’s Market or your local shops and get some good food into you! Get the best of summer and find awesome wholesome additions to your Boot Camp or Personal Training program. Get Cooking!!!…

According to Shout Out UK, nearly half of seniors above 65 years require help with assisted living activities. As you age, you may need help with chores such as washing, meal preparation, medication, and mobility. This is where St Petersburg assisted living can help. The staff in the facility can give you the care and attention you need.

Assisted living can also enhance your quality of life in the following ways:

Ensure You Get the Right Nutrition

Nutrition entails eating balanced and healthy food to give your body the required nutrients. Good nutrition is essential for everyone, but seniors may require a special diet to stay healthy. To be precise, you need to eat food with high nutrients and fewer calories. Sadly, it might be hard for you to take enough nutrients due to the following:

• Having trouble moving around to get groceries
• Health issues that can make it hard for you to eat or cook
• Medicines that can alter the taste of food
• Loss of sense of taste or smell

When you move to assisted living, you will never have to worry about preparing food. The caregivers will prepare quality food, feed you if you cannot, and ensure you take your medication.

You Enjoy Social Interaction

Seniors who live in their homes experience loneliness. A prolonged lack of interaction can affect their health tremendously. A study by the University of California shows that loneliness is a major cause of health problems and death among seniors. Assisted living facilities offer residents an opportunity to socialize with others. In addition, you engage in fun activities such as jogging, walking, and talking.

Final Word

Great assisted living facilities offer holistic assistance to seniors to ensure they live quality lives and are happy. So if you are wondering if moving to assisted living is a good idea, you now know. Visit a St Petersburg assisted living facility today to live an enjoyable life in your sunset years.…

You have probably heard of Lasagne, Contorni, and Bagna cauda. But what are they? How do you order them? Read on to find out. If you’ve never tried these dishes, you’re missing out. They’re delicious! So, what are traditional Italian meals served in restaurants? Here’s a list of some of the most popular. Then, decide which one is best for you!

Contorni

Traditional Italian foods are famous to most restaurant-goers, especially in most top bay area restaurants Napa, CA. There are four courses in a traditional Italian meal: the starter, the second course, and the dessert. The main dish is the main course, but the contorni are a perfect way to break up the meal and fill up between courses. Generally, these dishes are served after the second course. Dessert can be as simple as a luscious sorbetto or as elaborate as a cake with cream and chocolate sauce.

Bagna cauda

If you love Italian cuisine, you’ll love this dish. This hearty dish is served with a variety of vegetables, both raw and cooked. The usual vegetables used in bagna cauda are red beets, boiled potatoes, and fried pumpkin. The dish is served with a delicious sauce and is perfect for a fall evening. The ideal accompaniment for this dish is a glass of wine.

Lasagne

Lasagne is an enduring classic of Italian cuisine. A traditional Italian meal is perfect for any occasion and can be enjoyed any time of the year. Initially from Campania, the dish was created as a work of art. Cola di Petrarch, a struggling artist, made the dish to fill a box. He claimed the layers of sheet pasta depicted the final moments of Pompeii and a medically accurate representation of Mount Vesuvius. It has since become a popular dish in Italian cuisine and is now available in many cookbooks.

Risotto

Risotto is one of the classic Italian meals. Rice is traditionally cooked in beef broth with chopped onions and a touch of salt. In Italian cuisine, rice is much more flavorful with a few ingredients, such as garlic and saffron. Adding a little wine to the mix will enhance the dish’s flavor. Cooked rice can be served with various meats, poultry, or fish.

Risotto alla Milanese

If you want to make risotto at home, here are a few tips. The first step is to heat the chicken broth in a medium saucepan. Make sure the liquid doesn’t boil but remains hot, and add it slowly, about 1/2 cup at a time. Cook until the rice is tender and coated with a creamy sauce, about 20 minutes. Add the saffron threads just before serving, and the risotto will be golden.

Polpette

The name polpette is derived from the word for oven, which means “baked in the oven.” The Italians traditionally serve this dish with spaghetti, although it can also be prepared with meatballs. These small meatballs are easier to disperse evenly and get in every bite. Polpette is also served with meatball-topped pasta, a prevalent Italian dish.

Risotto a la Milanese

Risotto a la Milano is a rich rice dish served with vegetables, meat, or both. Most ingredients are available in larger grocery stores, though the black summer truffle, fresh seafood, and porcini mushrooms might require unique searching. You may also have to hunt for a …